Official Luthiers Forum!

Has anybody figured out a good way to copy neck profiles? I wraped 320 grit sandpaper around the neck, then took an index card, cut the rough neck profile and then slid it back and fourth on the sand paper to get the profile. It work okay, the problem was that it turned out a little wider than the actual neck I was making the profile from. I was thinking there must be a better way. I was thinking of some type of putty or somthing that could be molded onto the neck and when it is dry can be removed, cut on a band saw and then you would have a perfect profile. Thanks for the help
Travis

I believe there is a technique demonstrated in the Jigs and Tools tab at the top of the OLF page.

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

Hey Travis,
When I have to copy a neck profile, I carefully wrap it in a thin film of plastic (the kitchen variety), roughly cut a hardboard with an enlarged neck profile. Then, I use epoxy putty, manually mix it, roll it into a long rod, wrap it onto the plastic film and press the hardboard onto it. When dry, I remove everything, place some CA to ensure good adherence between the putty and the hardboard and carefully remove the excess putty with a disk sander. Done.

Note that I did not invent this technique, I think it is from Frank Ford site.

A large zip lock bag filled with plaster of Paris

In addition to the above, Tracy at Luthier Suppliers has a very large assortment of neck profile templates also. Very handy.

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

I use Mark Blanchards method, basically described by MLupien above. He did a rundown on it, but I can't locate it. I use scotch tape as a wrinkle-free protector for the neck but that's the only difference. They're easy to make & very handy.

You can use them to compare with your current project or whatever. Slick!

The only thing you have to remember is, if making a "C" shaped neck, don't wrap the epoxy around the "C" on the first fret profile or you won't get it off!

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Dave
Milton, ON

Thanks all, That is exactly what I was thinking I just was not sure about the execution.

Epoxy putty - expensive, slow, and potentially permanently messy. Plaster of Paree - messy and kind of weak. BONDO - aka "Liquid Board" - cheap, slightly messy, but tends to pop off the wrong surface with a little encouragement, cheap, fast, cheap, fairly durable, cheap but only slightly disgustingly smelly, and a big inexpensive can goes a long way.

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Dan
http://www.acme-archtops.com